Garment Closure System

ABSTRACT

A garment having a ventilated garment closure system including a vented zipper is provided. A first flap is disposed on a first side of a vented zipper, and a second flap disposed on a second side of the vented zipper.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a garment and morespecifically to a garment having a closure system which allows forventilation and protection from the elements.

It is common in the garment industry, particularly in garments that areused by motorcycle riders, to have vent openings to cool the body of therider in hot weather conditions. Consequently, garments and coats withprovisions for ventilation have been developed. Examples of suchgarments are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,715, issued Sep. 2, 1986 toMiller et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,477, issued Apr. 21, 1992 to Golde;and U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,064, issued Jan. 6, 1998 to van der Slessen,which are all incorporated herein by reference.

The garments, however do not provide protection from wet weatherconditions, such as rain or sleet, or an otherwise wet environmentbecause the moisture-resistant feature would require a sacrifice of theventilation feature. For motorcyclists, the windy conditions or normalhigh-speed motorcycle use make the inclusion of elaborate externalprotective rain gear or hot, bulky layers undesirable. To open the frontclosure of the weather resistant garment to provide the ventilationimpacts the overall function of the garment because it will flap in thewind behind the motorcyclist and substantially reduce the protectionoffered by the garment. Accordingly, there is a need for a streamlinedsystem to allow for protection from wet weather conditions and to allowfor maximized ventilation.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a garment having a ventilatedgarment closure system including a vented zipper is provided. In anotheraspect, a first flap is disposed on a first side of a vented zipper, anda second flap disposed on a second side of the vented zipper. In variousembodiments, a motorcycle jacket having a ventilated garment closuresystem is provided. A further aspect of the present disclosure employs avented zipper having a vented region and a vented zipper width greaterthan the front zipper width; this advantageously causes the ventedregion to have a compressed length when the front zipper is in an openposition and a relaxed length when the front zipper is in a closedposition.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a motorcyclejacket further including a first flap disposed on a first side of avented zipper and a second flap disposed on a second side of the ventedzipper. The first and second flaps are advantageously operable to beoverlapped along the vented region on the interior of the garment toprovide a barrier to deter passage of air through the vented region.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a garment includes avented zipper having a vented mesh region to allow passage of airtherethrough and creating a channel on a side of the vented zipper. Thechannel advantageously displaces the water.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a garment according to the presentteachings, used by a rider on a motorcycle;

FIG. 2 depicts a front elevational view of the garment according to thepresent teachings, shown in an open condition;

FIG. 3 depicts a fragmentary elevational view forward from the inside ofthe garment according to the present teachings, showing the ventedregions in a compressed condition and the rain flaps secured in an opencondition; and

FIGS. 4 a-4 c depict cross-sectional views of the garment according tothe present disclosure, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showingdifferent use conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a motorcycle rider 10 is shown riding a motorcycle12 and is subjected to a moving air stream indicated by arrows 14against the front of the rider's body. Rider 10 is wearing a garment 16having a weather-resistant and ventilated front closure system 18.Garment 16 is depicted as a jacket 20 which covers the arms and torso ofrider 10. It is understood that garment 16 can also be a combinedjacket/pant suit and can be useful for a user on other motorizedvehicles such as an all-terrain vehicle or a snowmobile, and relatedmotorsports, as non-limiting examples.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, garment 16 includes an outer shell 22 havingan exterior 24 and an interior 26 and a midliner 28. The midliner 28 ispreferably a mesh liner, sewn to interior 26 of outer shell 22. Outershell 22 is made of a textile, such as a woven or knit material. Thewoven or knit materials are selected from synthetic fibers or naturalfibers, such as cotton, including organic cotton. Other materials can beincorporated into outer shell 22 such as Lycra™ (a block copolymer ofpolyurethane and polyethylene glycol) or Kevlar™ (para-aramid syntheticfiber), as non-limiting examples, to add to the fit, comfort,performance, or style of garment 16. Garment 16 optionally includesthree-dimensional body armor 29 as shown in phantom. Exemplary bodyarmor is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,510, issuedJul. 24, 2001 to Bay et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,328, issued Sep. 26,2006 to Bay et al., which are incorporated herein, in their entirety, byreference.

Front closure system 18 extends substantially or entirely from a neck 30of garment 16 to a waistband 32 of garment 16. Front closure system 18provides weather-resistance, such as rain- or snow-resistance, to thetorso of rider 10 and is easily converted to provide ventilation torider 10 without detracting from the external appearance and overallfunction of the garment while securely maintaining garment 16 on therider's body. Front closure system 18 optimizes the riding experience byproviding versatility for different weather conditions without thebulkiness, heat, and inconvenience of other weather-resistant systems.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 a-4 c, front closure system 18 includes afront zipper 34, a vented zipper 36, a first flap 38, and a second flap40. Front zipper 34 provides the exterior-most closure or front closureof garment 16 and generally extends from neck 30 to waistband 32 ofgarment 16. Front zipper 34 includes a front zipper closure mechanism 42and lateral portions 44 a and 44 b on either side of front zipperclosure mechanism 42. In various aspects, front zipper 34 is an“invisible zipper” whereby portions of closure mechanism 42 remainhidden to simulate the appearance of a continuous front garment materialwhich is not interrupted by a zipper.

Vented zipper 36 is disposed on interior surface 26 of garment 16 atattachment sites 46 a and 46 b. Vented zipper 36 extends about frontzipper lateral sides 44 a and 44 b. Vented zipper 36 includes a ventedzipper closure mechanism 48 and a vented region 50 which includeslateral sides 52 a and 52 b. Vented region 50 is formed of a meshmaterial or other material having openings or perforations to facilitatepassage of air therethrough.

Vented region 50 has a greater width than front zipper lateral sides 44a and 44 b. Front closure lateral sides 44 a and 44 b have a width of afirst dimension while vented zipper lateral sides 52 a and 52 b have awidth of multiple times the width of front closure lateral sides 44 aand 44 b. As a non-limiting example, in an embodiment where frontclosure lateral sides 44 a and 44 b have a width of 3 centimeters whenfront closure mechanism 48 is engaged, vented zipper lateral sides 52 aand 52 b have a fully-expanded width of 7 centimeters when vented zipperclosure mechanism 48 is engaged and front closure mechanism 48 is notengaged. Thus, vented region 50 is at least twice as wide as frontclosure lateral sides 44 a and 44 b. It is understood that thedimensions of lateral sides 44 a, 44 b and 52 a, 52 b can be varied andthe ratio between the sets of lateral sides can also be varied withinthe scope of the present teachings although various advantages may notbe fully achieved.

As illustrated by the folds in vented region 50 shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4b, vented region 50 is in a compressed position when front zipper 34 isin the closed position because front zipper lateral sides 44 a and 44 bare of a smaller width than vented zipper lateral sides 52 a and 52 b.As shown in FIG. 4 c, when front zipper 34 is disengaged as to separatefront closure mechanism 42, vented region 50 is able to extend to itsfull length, and accordingly, the overall diameter or size of garment 16is increased across the torso of rider 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 a-4 c, front closure system 18 furtherincludes first flap 38 and second flap 40 which provide the water-proof,water-barrier, or weather-proofing features. Flaps 38 and 40 extendalong an interior surface 26 of garment 16 and are located laterally toattachment sites 46 a and 46 b for vented zipper 36. First flap 38 isattached at point 54 a, and second flap 40 is attached at point 54 b.Flaps 38 and 40 are able to extend entirely or substantially from neck30 to waistband 32 of garment 16. Flaps 38 and 40 are made of anysuitable textile or polymer material or include a polymer coating, suchas a PVC coating. In a preferred embodiment, flaps 38 and 40 include afacing or other stiffening material to enhance the rigidity of the flapsto facilitate placement of the flaps. The facing helps flaps 38 and 40retain their position is a cost-effective alternative to additionalhardware or fasteners within garment 16.

First flap 38 and second flap 40 also include channels 56 a and 56 b,respectively which serve as “gutters” to prevent water from wettingrider 10. Should any water permeate front zipper 34 when it is in theclosed position, channels 56 a and 56 b direct the water away from therider's body and facilitate removal of the water from garment 16.Channels 56 a and 56 b form an obstacle-type, multiple step waterremoval where any water which engaged but still bypassed channel 56 awould then engage channel 56 b for removal from garment 16. This systemprovides beneficial, multiple-level weather-proofing without burdeningthe rider with bulky and stuffy weather-protective garments.

As shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, respectively, first flap 38 and secondflap 40 are secured together so that they overlap and are in a closedposition, or first flap 38 and second flap 40 are removably secured tothe interior of the jacket at open position attachment points 58 a and58 b, respectively via mateable securing elements 60 to provide an openposition. In a preferred embodiment, mateable securing elements 60 arezipper halves such as those depicted as elements 62 a-62 e. Mateablesecuring elements 60 also include combinations such as male and femalesnaps, buttons and opening, and the like to provide security and ease ofuse.

In use, the user can choose to have garment 16 in a closed position toprovide the weather-resistance or in an open position to provideventilation. To start, with front zipper 34, vented zipper 36, firstflap 38, and second flap 40 in the open positions, the user puts ongarment 16. If needed, the user can disengage first flap 38 or secondflap 40 from the zippers or snaps at open position attachment points 58a and 58 b.

The user then advances first flap 38 over vented zipper 36 and securesfirst flap 38 to second flap 40 via zipper halves 62 b and 62 c. Next,the user advances second flap 40 behind first flap 38 and secures zipperhalf 62 d to mated zipper half 62 a. The pressure from the user's chestbearing against overlapped flaps 38 and 40 additionally maintains firstflap 38 and second flap 40 in the appropriate position to provide theweather-resistance.

Next, the user engages vented zipper closure mechanism 48 to securevented zipper lateral sides 52 a and 52 b together. The user then willfold, compress, or otherwise manipulate vented zipper lateral sides 52 aand 52 b to provide sufficient room for front zipper 34 to close overvented zipper 36. The user engages front closure mechanism 42 torestrict vented zipper lateral sides 52 a and 52 b and completely closegarment 16. Folded vented region 50 remains protected and compressedwithin the area between front closure zipper 34 and overlapped first andsecond flaps 38 and 40. The user is now protected from any wetconditions and should any water enter front zipper 34, channels 56 a and56 b sequentially divert the water away from the body of the user.

To provide ventilation, the user first disengages front closuremechanism 42 to separate front lateral sides 44 a and 44 b. This reducesthe restriction on vented zipper lateral sides 52 a and 52 b and willprovide a more “relaxed” fit to garment 16. The user then disengagesvented zipper closure mechanism 48 to allow access to first flap 38 andsecond flap 40. After unzipping or unsnapping the connections of firstflap 38 and second flap 40. The user can rotate first and second flaps38 and 40 to their respective “open positions” and removably securefirst flap 38 and second flap 40 to the respective open positionattachment points 58 a and 58 b as illustrated by arrows 64 a and 64 bin FIG. 4 b.

The user then engages vented zipper closure mechanism 48 to securegarment 16 on the user's body. Vented zipper lateral sides 52 a and 52 bare fully-expanded and increase the diameter of garment 16 about theuser's body and provide the relaxed fit. The relaxed fit and ventedregions 50 provide maximum air flow, as indicated by arrows 60, into thevented region 50 and about the user's body for cooling. The force of thewind blowing at the user keeps vented regions 50 fully expanded.

The relaxed fit increases the amount of room available about the user'sbody without sacrificing the streamlined fit and related function of amotorcycle garment. Front closure system 18 is beneficial as it providesa center front ventilation of garment 16 and a center front weatherprotection. The center front placement provides maximum protection andcooling benefits through a single region of garment 16.

The description of the present teachings is merely exemplary in natureand, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the presentteachings are intended to be within the scope of the present teachings.Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spiritand scope of the present teachings.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A method for ventilating a motor vehicle jacket ata location of a weather-resistant barrier, the method comprising:releasing a front closure on the jacket to expose a ventilated region;expanding a diameter of the jacket while keeping the jacket closed. 23.The method of claim 21, further comprising: providing theweather-resistant barrier by overlapping a first flap and a second flapon an interior surface of the jacket.
 24. The method of claim 22,further comprising: releasing the first and second overlapped flaps; andsecuring the first flap and the second flap at separate locations on theinterior surface of the jacket along opposite sides of the frontclosure.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein expanding the diameter ofthe jacket while keeping the jacket closed further comprises securingthe ventilated region.
 26. The method of claim 21, wherein expanding thediameter of the jacket while keeping the jacket closed further comprisesuncompressing the ventilated region into an extended position.